# William Clavering-Cowper, 2nd Earl Cowper

William Clavering-Cowper, 2nd Earl Cowper (13 August 1709 – 18 September 1764), styled Viscount Fordwich between 1718 and 1723, was an English peer and courtier.
Born William Cowper, he was the eldest son of William Cowper, 1st Earl Cowper and his second wife Mary, daughter of John Clavering of Chopwell, County Durham. He later assumed the additional surname of Clavering on the death of his maternal uncle.
He was educated at Exeter College, Oxford, matriculating in 1725 aged 16, created DCL in 1728.
He succeeded his father in the earldom in October 1723, aged 14. In 1744, he was appointed Lord-Lieutenant of Hertfordshire, a post he held until his death. He was also a Lord of the Bedchamber to George II.
Lord Cowper was twice married. He married firstly Lady Henrietta, daughter of Henry de Nassau d'Auverquerque in 1732. After her death in September 1747, he married secondly Lady Georgiana Caroline Carteret, daughter of John Carteret, and widow of John Spencer, on 1 May 1750. He died on 18 September 1764, aged 55, and was succeeded in the earldom by his son from his first marriage, George Clavering-Cowper. The Countess Cowper died on 21 August 1780.

## Relatives

vteCowper Family Tree :
| | | | | | | | | | | | | William Cowper (d. 1664) 1st Baronet of Ratling Court in the County of Kent | William Cowper (d. 1664) 1st Baronet of Ratling Court in the County of Kent | William Cowper (d. 1664) 1st Baronet of Ratling Court in the County of Kent | William Cowper (d. 1664) 1st Baronet of Ratling Court in the County of Kent | William Cowper (d. 1664) 1st Baronet of Ratling Court in the County of Kent | William Cowper (d. 1664) 1st Baronet of Ratling Court in the County of Kent | Martha Master | Martha Master | Martha Master | Martha Master | Martha Master | Martha Master |
| | | | | | | Joyce Hukeley (1622–1669) | Joyce Hukeley (1622–1669) | Joyce Hukeley (1622–1669) | Joyce Hukeley (1622–1669) | Joyce Hukeley (1622–1669) | Joyce Hukeley (1622–1669) | John Cowper (1613–1643) | John Cowper (1613–1643) | John Cowper (1613–1643) | John Cowper (1613–1643) | John Cowper (1613–1643) | John Cowper (1613–1643) | Sir Samuel Holled (1619–1661) | Sir Samuel Holled (1619–1661) | Sir Samuel Holled (1619–1661) | Sir Samuel Holled (1619–1661) | Sir Samuel Holled (1619–1661) | Sir Samuel Holled (1619–1661) | Anne Cowper (d. 1664) | Anne Cowper (d. 1664) | Anne Cowper (d. 1664) | Anne Cowper (d. 1664) | Anne Cowper (d. 1664) | Anne Cowper (d. 1664) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | William Cowper (1639–1706) 2nd Baronet of Ratling Court | William Cowper (1639–1706) 2nd Baronet of Ratling Court | William Cowper (1639–1706) 2nd Baronet of Ratling Court | William Cowper (1639–1706) 2nd Baronet of Ratling Court | William Cowper (1639–1706) 2nd Baronet of Ratling Court | William Cowper (1639–1706) 2nd Baronet of Ratling Court | Sarah Cowper (1644–1720) | Sarah Cowper (1644–1720) | Sarah Cowper (1644–1720) | Sarah Cowper (1644–1720) | Sarah Cowper (1644–1720) | Sarah Cowper (1644–1720) |
| | | | | | | Baron Cowper of Wingham in the County of Kent, 1706 Earl Cowper and Viscount Fordwich, in the County of Kent, 1718 | Baron Cowper of Wingham in the County of Kent, 1706 Earl Cowper and Viscount Fordwich, in the County of Kent, 1718 | Baron Cowper of Wingham in the County of Kent, 1706 Earl Cowper and Viscount Fordwich, in the County of Kent, 1718 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Elizabeth Culling (1676–1703) | Elizabeth Culling (1676–1703) | Elizabeth Culling (1676–1703) | Elizabeth Culling (1676–1703) | Elizabeth Culling (1676–1703) | Elizabeth Culling (1676–1703) | William Cowper (1665–1723) 1st Earl Cowper, 1st Viscount Fordwich, 3rd Baronet of Ratling Court | William Cowper (1665–1723) 1st Earl Cowper, 1st Viscount Fordwich, 3rd Baronet of Ratling Court | William Cowper (1665–1723) 1st Earl Cowper, 1st Viscount Fordwich, 3rd Baronet of Ratling Court | William Cowper (1665–1723) 1st Earl Cowper, 1st Viscount Fordwich, 3rd Baronet of Ratling Court | William Cowper (1665–1723) 1st Earl Cowper, 1st Viscount Fordwich, 3rd Baronet of Ratling Court | William Cowper (1665–1723) 1st Earl Cowper, 1st Viscount Fordwich, 3rd Baronet of Ratling Court | 1) Judith Booth (d. 1705) | 1) Judith Booth (d. 1705) | 1) Judith Booth (d. 1705) | 1) Judith Booth (d. 1705) | 1) Judith Booth (d. 1705) | 1) Judith Booth (d. 1705) | 2) Mary Clavering (1685–1724) | 2) Mary Clavering (1685–1724) | 2) Mary Clavering (1685–1724) | 2) Mary Clavering (1685–1724) | 2) Mary Clavering (1685–1724) | 2) Mary Clavering (1685–1724) | Samuel Cowper (1666) | Samuel Cowper (1666) | Samuel Cowper (1666) | Samuel Cowper (1666) | Samuel Cowper (1666) | Samuel Cowper (1666) | John Cowper (1667–1686) | John Cowper (1667–1686) | John Cowper (1667–1686) | John Cowper (1667–1686) | John Cowper (1667–1686) | John Cowper (1667–1686) | Spencer Cowper (1670–1728) | Spencer Cowper (1670–1728) | Spencer Cowper (1670–1728) | Spencer Cowper (1670–1728) | Spencer Cowper (1670–1728) | Spencer Cowper (1670–1728) | Pennington Goodere (1667–1727) | Pennington Goodere (1667–1727) | Pennington Goodere (1667–1727) | Pennington Goodere (1667–1727) | Pennington Goodere (1667–1727) | Pennington Goodere (1667–1727) |
| William Cowper (1697–1719) | William Cowper (1697–1719) | William Cowper (1697–1719) | William Cowper (1697–1719) | William Cowper (1697–1719) | William Cowper (1697–1719) | Mary Cowper (1700–1740) | Mary Cowper (1700–1740) | Mary Cowper (1700–1740) | Mary Cowper (1700–1740) | Mary Cowper (1700–1740) | Mary Cowper (1700–1740) | William Cowper (1687–1692?) | William Cowper (1687–1692?) | William Cowper (1687–1692?) | William Cowper (1687–1692?) | William Cowper (1687–1692?) | William Cowper (1687–1692?) | William Cowper (1689–1740) | William Cowper (1689–1740) | William Cowper (1689–1740) | William Cowper (1689–1740) | William Cowper (1689–1740) | William Cowper (1689–1740) | Spencer Cowper (1690) | Spencer Cowper (1690) | Spencer Cowper (1690) | Spencer Cowper (1690) | Spencer Cowper (1690) | Spencer Cowper (1690) | Spencer Cowper (1691–1706) | Spencer Cowper (1691–1706) | Spencer Cowper (1691–1706) | Spencer Cowper (1691–1706) | Spencer Cowper (1691–1706) | Spencer Cowper (1691–1706) | John Cowper (1694–1756) | John Cowper (1694–1756) | John Cowper (1694–1756) | John Cowper (1694–1756) | John Cowper (1694–1756) | John Cowper (1694–1756) | Ashley Cowper (1701–1768) | Ashley Cowper (1701–1768) | Ashley Cowper (1701–1768) | Ashley Cowper (1701–1768) | Ashley Cowper (1701–1768) | Ashley Cowper (1701–1768) | Judith Madan (1702–1781) | Judith Madan (1702–1781) | Judith Madan (1702–1781) | Judith Madan (1702–1781) | Judith Madan (1702–1781) | Judith Madan (1702–1781) |
| Sarah Cowper (1707–1764) | Sarah Cowper (1707–1764) | Sarah Cowper (1707–1764) | Sarah Cowper (1707–1764) | Sarah Cowper (1707–1764) | Sarah Cowper (1707–1764) | William Clavering-Cowper (1709–1764) 2nd Earl Cowper, 2nd Viscount Fordwich, 4th Baronet of Ratling Court | William Clavering-Cowper (1709–1764) 2nd Earl Cowper, 2nd Viscount Fordwich, 4th Baronet of Ratling Court | William Clavering-Cowper (1709–1764) 2nd Earl Cowper, 2nd Viscount Fordwich, 4th Baronet of Ratling Court | William Clavering-Cowper (1709–1764) 2nd Earl Cowper, 2nd Viscount Fordwich, 4th Baronet of Ratling Court | William Clavering-Cowper (1709–1764) 2nd Earl Cowper, 2nd Viscount Fordwich, 4th Baronet of Ratling Court | William Clavering-Cowper (1709–1764) 2nd Earl Cowper, 2nd Viscount Fordwich, 4th Baronet of Ratling Court | Anne Cowper (1710–1764) | Anne Cowper (1710–1764) | Anne Cowper (1710–1764) | Anne Cowper (1710–1764) | Anne Cowper (1710–1764) | Anne Cowper (1710–1764) | Spencer Cowper (1713–1774) | Spencer Cowper (1713–1774) | Spencer Cowper (1713–1774) | Spencer Cowper (1713–1774) | Spencer Cowper (1713–1774) | Spencer Cowper (1713–1774) | William Cowper (1731–1800) | William Cowper (1731–1800) | William Cowper (1731–1800) | William Cowper (1731–1800) | William Cowper (1731–1800) | William Cowper (1731–1800) |
| | | | | | | George Nassau Clavering-Cowper (1738–1789) 3rd Earl Cowper, 3rd Viscount Fordwich, 5th Baronet of Ratling Court | George Nassau Clavering-Cowper (1738–1789) 3rd Earl Cowper, 3rd Viscount Fordwich, 5th Baronet of Ratling Court | George Nassau Clavering-Cowper (1738–1789) 3rd Earl Cowper, 3rd Viscount Fordwich, 5th Baronet of Ratling Court | George Nassau Clavering-Cowper (1738–1789) 3rd Earl Cowper, 3rd Viscount Fordwich, 5th Baronet of Ratling Court | George Nassau Clavering-Cowper (1738–1789) 3rd Earl Cowper, 3rd Viscount Fordwich, 5th Baronet of Ratling Court | George Nassau Clavering-Cowper (1738–1789) 3rd Earl Cowper, 3rd Viscount Fordwich, 5th Baronet of Ratling Court | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | George Augustus Clavering-Cowper (1776–1799) 4th Earl Cowper, 4th Viscount Fordwich, 6th Baronet of Ratling Court | George Augustus Clavering-Cowper (1776–1799) 4th Earl Cowper, 4th Viscount Fordwich, 6th Baronet of Ratling Court | George Augustus Clavering-Cowper (1776–1799) 4th Earl Cowper, 4th Viscount Fordwich, 6th Baronet of Ratling Court | George Augustus Clavering-Cowper (1776–1799) 4th Earl Cowper, 4th Viscount Fordwich, 6th Baronet of Ratling Court | George Augustus Clavering-Cowper (1776–1799) 4th Earl Cowper, 4th Viscount Fordwich, 6th Baronet of Ratling Court | George Augustus Clavering-Cowper (1776–1799) 4th Earl Cowper, 4th Viscount Fordwich, 6th Baronet of Ratling Court | Peter Leopold Louis Francis Nassau (1778–1837) 5th Earl Cowper, 5th Viscount Fordwich, 7th Baronet of Ratling Court | Peter Leopold Louis Francis Nassau (1778–1837) 5th Earl Cowper, 5th Viscount Fordwich, 7th Baronet of Ratling Court | Peter Leopold Louis Francis Nassau (1778–1837) 5th Earl Cowper, 5th Viscount Fordwich, 7th Baronet of Ratling Court | Peter Leopold Louis Francis Nassau (1778–1837) 5th Earl Cowper, 5th Viscount Fordwich, 7th Baronet of Ratling Court | Peter Leopold Louis Francis Nassau (1778–1837) 5th Earl Cowper, 5th Viscount Fordwich, 7th Baronet of Ratling Court | Peter Leopold Louis Francis Nassau (1778–1837) 5th Earl Cowper, 5th Viscount Fordwich, 7th Baronet of Ratling Court |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | George Augustus Frederick Cowper (1806–1856) 6th Earl Cowper, 6th Viscount Fordwich, 8th Baronet of Ratling Court | George Augustus Frederick Cowper (1806–1856) 6th Earl Cowper, 6th Viscount Fordwich, 8th Baronet of Ratling Court | George Augustus Frederick Cowper (1806–1856) 6th Earl Cowper, 6th Viscount Fordwich, 8th Baronet of Ratling Court | George Augustus Frederick Cowper (1806–1856) 6th Earl Cowper, 6th Viscount Fordwich, 8th Baronet of Ratling Court | George Augustus Frederick Cowper (1806–1856) 6th Earl Cowper, 6th Viscount Fordwich, 8th Baronet of Ratling Court | George Augustus Frederick Cowper (1806–1856) 6th Earl Cowper, 6th Viscount Fordwich, 8th Baronet of Ratling Court | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | Francis Thomas de Grey Cowper (1834–1905) 7th Earl Cowper, 7th Viscount Fordwich, 8th Baron Lucas, 3rd Baron Butler, 9th Baronet of Ratling Court, 4th Lord Dingwall | Francis Thomas de Grey Cowper (1834–1905) 7th Earl Cowper, 7th Viscount Fordwich, 8th Baron Lucas, 3rd Baron Butler, 9th Baronet of Ratling Court, 4th Lord Dingwall | Francis Thomas de Grey Cowper (1834–1905) 7th Earl Cowper, 7th Viscount Fordwich, 8th Baron Lucas, 3rd Baron Butler, 9th Baronet of Ratling Court, 4th Lord Dingwall | Francis Thomas de Grey Cowper (1834–1905) 7th Earl Cowper, 7th Viscount Fordwich, 8th Baron Lucas, 3rd Baron Butler, 9th Baronet of Ratling Court, 4th Lord Dingwall | Francis Thomas de Grey Cowper (1834–1905) 7th Earl Cowper, 7th Viscount Fordwich, 8th Baron Lucas, 3rd Baron Butler, 9th Baronet of Ratling Court, 4th Lord Dingwall | Francis Thomas de Grey Cowper (1834–1905) 7th Earl Cowper, 7th Viscount Fordwich, 8th Baron Lucas, 3rd Baron Butler, 9th Baronet of Ratling Court, 4th Lord Dingwall | Florence Amabell Herbert | Florence Amabell Herbert | Florence Amabell Herbert | Florence Amabell Herbert | Florence Amabell Herbert | Florence Amabell Herbert | Auberon Edward William Molyneux Herbert (1838–1906) | Auberon Edward William Molyneux Herbert (1838–1906) | Auberon Edward William Molyneux Herbert (1838–1906) | Auberon Edward William Molyneux Herbert (1838–1906) | Auberon Edward William Molyneux Herbert (1838–1906) | Auberon Edward William Molyneux Herbert (1838–1906) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | Earldom of Cowper, Viscountcy of Fordwich, Barony of Cowper, Baronetcy of Ratlingcourt extinct, 1905 | Earldom of Cowper, Viscountcy of Fordwich, Barony of Cowper, Baronetcy of Ratlingcourt extinct, 1905 | Earldom of Cowper, Viscountcy of Fordwich, Barony of Cowper, Baronetcy of Ratlingcourt extinct, 1905 | Earldom of Cowper, Viscountcy of Fordwich, Barony of Cowper, Baronetcy of Ratlingcourt extinct, 1905 | Earldom of Cowper, Viscountcy of Fordwich, Barony of Cowper, Baronetcy of Ratlingcourt extinct, 1905 | Earldom of Cowper, Viscountcy of Fordwich, Barony of Cowper, Baronetcy of Ratlingcourt extinct, 1905 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Auberon Thomas Herbert (1876–1916) 9th Baron Lucas, 5th Lord Dingwall | Auberon Thomas Herbert (1876–1916) 9th Baron Lucas, 5th Lord Dingwall | Auberon Thomas Herbert (1876–1916) 9th Baron Lucas, 5th Lord Dingwall | Auberon Thomas Herbert (1876–1916) 9th Baron Lucas, 5th Lord Dingwall | Auberon Thomas Herbert (1876–1916) 9th Baron Lucas, 5th Lord Dingwall | Auberon Thomas Herbert (1876–1916) 9th Baron Lucas, 5th Lord Dingwall | Nan Ino Cooper (1880–1958) 10th Baroness Lucas, 6th Lady Dingwall | Nan Ino Cooper (1880–1958) 10th Baroness Lucas, 6th Lady Dingwall | Nan Ino Cooper (1880–1958) 10th Baroness Lucas, 6th Lady Dingwall | Nan Ino Cooper (1880–1958) 10th Baroness Lucas, 6th Lady Dingwall | Nan Ino Cooper (1880–1958) 10th Baroness Lucas, 6th Lady Dingwall | Nan Ino Cooper (1880–1958) 10th Baroness Lucas, 6th Lady Dingwall |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Anne Rosemary Palmer (d. 1991) 11th Baroness Lucas, 7th Lady Dingwall | Anne Rosemary Palmer (d. 1991) 11th Baroness Lucas, 7th Lady Dingwall | Anne Rosemary Palmer (d. 1991) 11th Baroness Lucas, 7th Lady Dingwall | Anne Rosemary Palmer (d. 1991) 11th Baroness Lucas, 7th Lady Dingwall | Anne Rosemary Palmer (d. 1991) 11th Baroness Lucas, 7th Lady Dingwall | Anne Rosemary Palmer (d. 1991) 11th Baroness Lucas, 7th Lady Dingwall | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Ralph Matthew Palmer (b. 1951) 12th Baron Lucas, 8th Lord Dingwall | Ralph Matthew Palmer (b. 1951) 12th Baron Lucas, 8th Lord Dingwall | Ralph Matthew Palmer (b. 1951) 12th Baron Lucas, 8th Lord Dingwall | Ralph Matthew Palmer (b. 1951) 12th Baron Lucas, 8th Lord Dingwall | Ralph Matthew Palmer (b. 1951) 12th Baron Lucas, 8th Lord Dingwall | Ralph Matthew Palmer (b. 1951) 12th Baron Lucas, 8th Lord Dingwall | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |

## Arms

Coat of arms of William Clavering-Cowper, 2nd Earl Cowper :
* CrestA lion's jamb erased Or holding a cherry branch Vert fructed Gules.
* EscutcheonArgent three martlets Gules on a chief engrailed of the last three annulets Or.
* SupportersTwo dun horses close cropped (except a tuft on the withers) and docked a large blaze down the face a black list down the back and three white feet viz both hind and the near fore foot.
* MottoTuum Est (It Is Thine)